Loose-leaf binder.



No. 801,969. PATENTED OCT. 17, 1905. E. COLEMAN.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18,1904.

3' SHEETSSHEET l.

Armaaw a, mum co, PnoYmJmncmPnms. wnsnmcmu a c.

PATENTED OCT. 17, 1905.

E. COLEMAN. LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.18,1904.

ANDREW a GRAHAM co. Puurumnocannzns wAsmsY-Jm u c PATENTED OCT. 17,1905.

3VSHBETSSHEET 3.

No. 801,969. I E. COLEMAN,

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18,1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

rte/801,969.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed November 18, 1904. Serial No. 233.296.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD COLE AN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a loose-leaf binder or ledger; and the inventionconsists mainly in such construction of the binder that by direct andpositively acting parts, which can be cheaply made and easily puttogether, the binding-flanges which confine the leaves may be easilyclosed and separated by the use of a key, thus producing a cheap,compact, powerful, and durable binder and one which will not get out oforder as to the proper parallelism of the binding-flanges or otherwise.

My invention also consists in such construction of the parts of thebinder that a narrowbackedbinder may be expanded from a narrow to a verywide space between the binding-fianges, thus increasing the capacity ofthe binder and furnishing when expanded an ample space for theconvenient manipulation of the leaves.

The invention also consists in the construction, arrangement, andcombinations of the parts, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made, Figure 1 is aplan view of a loose-leaf binder made in accordance with my invention.Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan viewof the back, showing the parts in extended position. Fig. 4 is asectional elevation on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are transversesectional views on lines 5 5 and 6 6 of Figsvl and 3, respectively. Fig.7 is a plan view of' the operating bar or plate, and Fig. Sis a planview of the main back.

In the drawings, 2 2 designate the covers, 3 the main back, and 4 4 thesides or bindingfianges, which are provided with filing pins or posts 5,preferably telescoping posts, which are adapted to hold sheets of paperto be applied to them in the usual way.

The back 3 is by preference made of metal in concaved or otherappropriate shape to form the upturned edges 7 7, so as to receive thesix bridge-pieces 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14 or any other proper number,according to the size of the binder. The ends of the back 3 are bypreference finished with the plates 15 and 16, having the overlying endflanges 17 18 to conceal the parts beneath. The side pieces orbinding-flanges 4 4 are held to the back by right-angled supports 19 20,preferably in the form of practically continuous plates and by rivets orscrews hereinafter described, which pass through slots into thebridge-pieces, and said supports are by preference made integral withthe said side pieces or flanges. Each end of each side piece orbinding-flange is by preference finished with an inwardly-turned flange21, and these are concealed by the end plates 15 16 and their flanges 1718.

The support 19 is formed with two slots 22 23 and is held to the back 3and its bridges 9 and 12 by screws or similar devices 24 25, and thesupport is formed with two like slots 26 27 and is held to the back andits bridgepieces 10 and 12 by screws or similar devices 28 29. The slots26 27 are offset from the slots 22 23, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and3, and the meeting edges of the bottom plates or supports 19 20 are ofincreased width adjacent to the slots, allowing the slots to be ofincreased length, thus increasing the distance of spread of the binderand allowing long posts 5 to be used, making the binder of largecapacity when extended and small in size when closed. The edge of thesupport 20 opposite those portions of the support 19 which contain theslots 22 and 23 is cut away or recessed, as shown at 30 31, to receivethe extended edge or portion of the support 19, and the support 19opposite those portions of the support 20 which contain the slots 26 and27 is cut away or recessed, as shown at 32 33, to receive the extendededge or portion of the support 20.

34 designates a longitudinally-movable bar or plate located beneath thesupports 19 20.

(See Fig. 7 It is operated by a threaded operatingshaft 35, locatedbeneath itthat is, between the main back 3 and the said bar or plate 34.The bar or plate 34 takes its bearings, as here shown, in the center ofthe main back on recesses 36, 36, 36 and 36 formed on the upper edges ofthe bridge-pieces 9 1O 12 13, which are alternately offset from eachother, as shown in Fig. 8, and is held down in said recesses permanentlyby the supports 19 20, and it is connected to the operating-shaft by ablock 37, secured to its under surface, which slides on the back 3 andoperates between the bridge-pieces 1213, which latter serve as abutmentsfor the shaft, the shaft being adapted to be rotated by a crank or key38 in bearings 39 40, formed in the bridge-pieces 12 13, as clearlyshown in Fig. 4.

To the bridge-piece 9 is centrally fulcrumed on a pin 41, Figs. 3 and 8,a triangular or bellcrank lever 42, formed with slots 43 44 at its ends.The slot 44 engages with a stud or pin 45 on the top of the operatingbar or plate 34,

' while the slot 43 engages with a stud or pin 46 on the under surfaceof the support 19. Another bell-crank lever 47 is fulcrumed on a stud orpin 48 on the bridge-piece 12 and like the lever 42 is formed with slots49 50 at its ends, the slot 50 being connected to a stud 51 on the topof the operating bar or plate 34, (see Figs. 3 and 8,) while the slot 49is connected to a pin 52 on the under side of the support 19, so thatwhen the operating bar or plate 34 is moved back and forth by theoperating-shaft 35 one of the side pieces or binding-flanges 4 and thesupport 19, to which it is connected, will be moved out or in laterally.

The above-described construction and operation is duplicated for thesupport 20 and" its binding-flange 4-that is to say, on the bridge-piece10 is centrally fulcrumed on a stud or pin 53 a bell-crank lever 54. Oneend of this lever is connected to the top of the opcrating-bar 34 by apin and slot 55 56, while its opposite end is connected to the underside of the support 20 by a pin .and slot 57 58. On the bridge-piece 13is centrally fulcrumed on a pin or stud 59 a bell-crank lever 60, oneend of which is connected to the topof the bar or plate 34 by a pin andslot 61 62, while its 0pposite end is connected to the support 20 by apin and slot 62 63. The pins or studs 41 and 48 are held by thebridge-pieces on one side of the center of the binder, While the pins orstuds 53 and 59 are held by the bridge pieces on the opposite side ofthe center of the binder, and the bar or plate 34 is recessed at theedges, as shown at 64, 65, 66, and 67 in Fig. 7, thus forming theopposite edge extensions 68, 69, 70, and 71 for the pins or studs 45,55, 51, and 61, as shown clearly in said figure.

The covers 2 2 are each bound to a hingepiece 72 (see Figs. 5 and 6) ofwood or metal and are fastened to the outside of the side pieces orbinding-flanges 44 by screws 7 3 73, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

While the ends of the bell-crank levers might be connected to the bar orplate 34 and to the supports 19 and 20 by other means, I prefer theslot-and-pin connections, for in operation the pins have a free cam-likeaction on the edges of the slots, closing the sides of the binder withsuflicient force and without overstrain upon the operating-shaft 35, andthe action is uniform on both sides and at both ends of the binder, andby locating the bell-crank levers on top of the bar or plate 34 andbelow the supports 19 and 20 the levers are held in proper alinement andout of contact with the paper placed upon the filinganotherbinding-flange, a support therefor held by the back, one ormorelevers fulcrumed to the back and connected at one end to saidsupport and at the other end to the said bar, and means for moving thebar back and forth, substantially as described.

2. In a loose-leaf binder a longitudinally-' movable bar, a back adaptedto receive said bar, opposite binding-flanges, supports therefor held bythe back and one or more levers each fulcrumed to the back and connectedat one end to said bar and at the other end to said supports,substantially as described.

3. In a loose-leaf binder a pair of levers fulcrumed at one side of thecenter of the back, another pair of levers fulcrumed at the oppositeside of the center of the back, a longitudinally-movable bar operatingbetween said fulcrums and to which the levers are connected at one endand supports to which the opposite ends of the levers are connected,substantially as described.

4. In a loose-leaf binder, a back, a longitudinally-movable bar, a pairof bell-crank levers fulcrumed to said back, a sliding support connectedto said levers and provided with a binding-flange, another pair ofbell-crank levers fulcrumed to said back, another support connected tosaid last-mentioned levers and provided with a binding-flange, and meansfor connecting each ofsaid bell-crank levers to the said bar,substantially as described.

5. In a loose-leaf binder, a back, bridgepieces secured in said back, alongitudinallymovable bar held on said bridge-pieces, bellcrank leversfulcrumed on fixed bearings and connected at one end to said bar andconnected at the other to supports which slide over the bell-cranklevers, substantially as described.

6. In a loose-leaf binder, a back, bridgepieces secured in said back, ashaft journaled in the bridge-pieces, a bar held on the bridgepiecesabove said shaft and connected to the shaft, bellcrank levers fulcrumedon fixed bearings and connected at one end to said bar and connected atthe other end to supports which slide over the bar, the said supportsbeing provided with binding-flanges, substantially as described.

7. In a loose-leaf binder, a back, a longitudinally-movable bar held insaid back, bellcrank levers fulcrumed on fixed bearings and connected atone end to said bar, a bindingflange support formed with slots and heldon the back'by pins in said slots and means for connecting said supportto the outer ends of said bell-crank levers, substantially as described.

8. In a loose-leaf binder, a back, a pair of binding-flange supportsportions of whose inner edges close beyond the center of the back, slotsin said extended portions and pins therein for holding the supports tothe back, a longitudinally-sliding bar and bell-crank levers connectedto said bar and to said supports and fulcrumed on fixed bearingssubstantially as described.

9. In a loose-leaf binder a longitudinallymovable bar, a pair of pivotson said bar at each side of its longitudinal center, a pair of leversfulcrumed on fixed bearings at each side of said bar and connected tosaid pivots, movable supports connected with said levers andbinding-flanges carried by said supports, substantially as described.

10. In a loose-leaf binder alongitudinallymovable bar, a pair of pivotson said bar at each side of the longitudinal center thereof, a pair offixed studs at each side of said bar, combined with bell-crank leversfulcrumed on said studs, and formed with slots at the ends to connectwith the said pivots, and with slots at the opposite ends, supportsconnected with said bell-crank levers in the last-mentioned slots andbinding-flanges connected with said supports, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a loose-leaf binder a longitudinallymovable bar, a pair of pivotson said bar at each side of the longitudinal center thereof, a pair offixed studs at each side of said bar in line with the pivots on the bar,combined with bell-crank levers fulcrumed on said studs, and formed withslots at the ends to connect with the said pivots and with slots at theopposite ends and supports for the bindingflanges, having pins toconnect with the lastmentioned slots, substantially as described.

12. In a loose-leaf binder a back, a shaft held in hearings on saidback, a bar connected to said shaft, and bell-crank levers having fixedfulcrums held by said back, pivots for said levers on said bar, supportsconnected to the-outer ends of said levers and flanges held by saidsupports, substantially as described. 13. In a loose-leaf binder, aback, opposite slotted supports provided withbinding-fianges havingfiling-pins, a bar located below the said supports, two pairs ofbell-crank levers located between the said supports and the said bar andfulcrumed on fixed bearings and connected to the bar and supports and athreaded shaft connected to the said bar and held in bearings beneathsaid bar, substantially as described.

EDWARD COLEMAN. Witnesses:

H. A. WVEs'r,

MORTIMER J. MAHONY.

